NameCensus.

UK surname

Macneill

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Nèill" meaning "son of Niall" or "son of the champion".

In the 1881 census there were 101 people recorded with the Macneill surname, ranking it #19,636 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 728, ranked #7,474, up from #19,636 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Killean and Kilchenzie, Govan Combination and Tiree and Coll. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Whisky Isles, Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree and Sutherland South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macneill is 728 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 620.8%.

1881 census count

101

Ranked #19,636

Modern count

728

2016, ranked #7,474

Peak year

2016

728 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macneill had 101 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,636 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016, ranked #7,474.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Macneill surname distribution map

The map shows where the Macneill surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Macneill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macneill over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 50 #24,274
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 101 #19,636
1891 historical 163 #17,300
1901 historical 254 #13,005
1911 historical 47 #28,110
1997 modern 636 #7,798
1998 modern 644 #7,963
1999 modern 640 #8,060
2000 modern 666 #7,788
2001 modern 652 #7,779
2002 modern 671 #7,765
2003 modern 646 #7,860
2004 modern 637 #7,953
2005 modern 640 #7,855
2006 modern 631 #7,983
2007 modern 649 #7,873
2008 modern 656 #7,860
2009 modern 669 #7,908
2010 modern 669 #8,068
2011 modern 677 #7,893
2012 modern 692 #7,670
2013 modern 700 #7,725
2014 modern 727 #7,558
2015 modern 726 #7,518
2016 modern 728 #7,474

Geography

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Where Macneills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Killean and Kilchenzie, Govan Combination, Tiree and Coll, Tiree and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Whisky Isles, Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree, Sutherland South, Knapdale and Lochaber East and North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Killean and Kilchenzie Argyll
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Tiree and Coll Argyll
4 Tiree Argyll
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
2 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute
3 Sutherland South Highland
4 Knapdale Argyll and Bute
5 Lochaber East and North Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macneill

These lists show first names that appear often with the Macneill surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macneill

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macneill, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Macneill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Macneill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Macneill is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Macneill is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Macneill falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macneill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Macneill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Macneill

The surname MacNeill originates from Scotland, tracing its roots back to the medieval Gaelic era. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Niall," which means "champion" or "cloud." The prefix "Mac" signifies "son of," making MacNeill translate to "son of Niall."

This name has a rich history intertwined with Scottish clans and their territories. The MacNeills were a prominent clan in the Hebrides and the Argyll region, particularly on the islands of Barra and Gigha. Their ancestral lands were centered around the area of Kintyre, where they held significant influence and power.

Historical records mention the MacNeills as early as the 13th century. One notable mention is in the Annals of Ulster, which refer to Gillecaluim MacNeil in the year 1263. The name also appears in the Book of Clanranald, a 17th-century manuscript detailing the genealogy of Scottish clans.

The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Gillebride MacNeil, who lived in the late 13th century and was a prominent figure in the Clan MacNeill. Another notable individual was Torquil MacNeill, a 15th-century chief of the clan, who played a significant role in the Hebridean wars.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname MacNeill have left their mark. One such individual was Hector MacNeill (1746-1818), a Scottish poet and lyricist known for his pastoral poems and songs. Another notable figure was John MacNeill (1854-1933), an Irish scholar and language revivalist who played a pivotal role in the Gaelic revival movement.

Sir John Carstairs Arnott MacNeill (1849-1927) was a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to education and healthcare in Nova Scotia. Lastly, Eoin MacNeill (1867-1945) was an Irish scholar, historian, and a prominent leader in the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Easter Rising of 1916.

The surname MacNeill has endured through the centuries, with various spelling variations such as MacNeil, McNeil, and McNeill. While the name has evolved and spread across different regions, its Scottish roots and historical significance remain deeply ingrained in its heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macneill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macneill surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Argyllshire leads with 37 Macneills recorded in 1881 and an index of 154.88x.

County Total Index
Argyllshire 37 154.88x
Lanarkshire 19 6.84x
Middlesex 6 0.70x
Sussex 5 3.46x
Renfrewshire 3 4.51x
Roxburghshire 3 19.29x
Anglesey 2 13.15x
Fife 2 3.94x
Northumberland 2 1.57x
Ayrshire 1 1.56x
Dunbartonshire 1 4.33x
Inverness-shire 1 3.90x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 8.05x
Lancashire 1 0.10x
Midlothian 1 0.87x
Ross-shire 1 4.24x
Surrey 1 0.24x
Yorkshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tyree in Argyllshire leads with 27 Macneills recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Tyree 27 3333.33x
Barony 8 11.39x
Glasgow 7 14.20x
Kilchoman 7 933.33x
Fulham London 5 40.16x
Ore 5 462.96x
Bedrule 3 3750.00x
Govan 3 4.37x
Kilfinichen 3 508.47x
Beaumaris 2 357.14x
Cathcart 2 55.56x
St Andrews 2 86.58x
Westgate 2 25.28x
Askham Richard 1 1428.57x
Didsbury 1 74.07x
Duirinish 1 76.34x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.16x
Fodderty 1 166.67x
Godalming 1 38.02x
Kensington London 1 2.10x
Kilmarnock 1 13.07x
Kirkcudbright 1 97.09x
Row 1 33.56x
Rutherglen 1 24.57x
West Greenock 1 8.38x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Macneill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Constan 1
Cornelia 1
Helen 1
Laura 1
Margarett 1
Marion 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Macneill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Alfred 1
Ashton 1
David 1
Duncan 1
Ronald 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Macneill households.

FAQ

Macneill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macneill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 101 people were recorded with the Macneill surname. That placed it at #19,636 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macneill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016. That gives Macneill a modern rank of #7,474.

What does the Macneill surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Nèill" meaning "son of Niall" or "son of the champion".

What does the Macneill map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Macneill bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.